Resistance in mechanical keyboards comes from a spring rather than a rubber dome, which makes the keyboard more accurate and longer lasting (German)
There are many reservations against traditional mechanical keyboards, as they are noisy, very large, heavy and expensive, while flat, light and low-cost designs are more widespread in the market.
A report by the German News Agency stated that the electronics markets include a sector for modern mechanical keyboards, which not only meet the requirements of computer gamers who prefer semi-analog technology, but are also used by other groups of users, as people who type a lot prefer to rely on keyboards. Mechanical keys, because they have a clear pressure point or a distinct clicking sound.
Two different technologies
Two different technologies are mainly used in keyboards: membrane keyboards, also known as rubber dome keyboards, and mechanical keyboards.
Christoph De Leeuw from the German "Computer Bild" magazine explained: "Keyboards equipped with plastic or rubber covers in the form of domes that act as spring elements under the buttons are the most common in the market."
Rubber dome keyboards are generally quiet in use and are therefore often used in large offices. They are also produced at low cost, as they involve a small number of components and parts.
When clicking on the buttons, the button press is transmitted to the sensors via a silicone mat with rubber protrusions, or what is known as rubber domes, but over time these rubber or plastic mats can corrode, which requires the user to click more forcefully on the button until it moves. .
Mechanical keyboards, in contrast, operate via metal springs, hinges, and switches.
Paul Geers from Geek Boards, a company specializing in keyboard production in the German capital, Berlin, explained: “Each button is equipped with an individual key mechanism that actually works in the middle of the keystroke path.”
Resistance in mechanical keyboards is created by a spring rather than a rubber dome, which makes the keyboard more precise and longer lasting.
Depending on the design and buttons installed on the keyboard, there is a specific pressure point in one way or another, in addition to the presence of optical switches that operate by means of a light beam. If this beam is interrupted, the keystroke is recorded.
Mechanical keyboards offer the practical advantage that any component can be replaced, as keys and button covers can be replaced (Getty)
Linear and tactile switches
A distinction is usually made between linear and tactile keys, or what are known as click keys.
Linear switches do not provide any noticeable tactile response when registering button presses, are easy to press, and are often used for multiplayer or action games.
Tactile keys provide a tactile response when pressing buttons, and the pressure point and intensity of pressure required to reach them can vary, and this type of keyboard is often used with shooting or competitive games.
Clicky keys provide an acoustic response as well as a tactile response when the pressure register point is reached. This type of keyboard is very popular with strategy game enthusiasts as well as heavy typing users.
Geers explained that mechanical keyboards provide a practical advantage in that any component can be replaced, as the keys and button covers can be replaced, and because of its design, the mechanical keyboard is considered more sustainable than models equipped with a rubber dome.
Scissor keyboards
Scissor keyboards are considered the third model of keyboards, as this type of keyboards are designed similar to rubber dome keyboards, and include a rubber mat, but they use a different system to operate the contacts.
“There is a scissor mechanism under the keycap, so it allows for a more flat design overall,” explained Tania Knahn, from Cherry, which specializes in producing peripheral devices.
Therefore, this type of keyboard is often used in laptops, and scissor keyboards are considered more stable than models with a rubber dome.
However, scissor or rubber dome keyboards cannot outperform mechanical keyboards in terms of accuracy and speed, as mechanical keyboards allow for faster clicks, switches, and customized keystrokes, which meets the demands of many gamers.
Keyboard expert Gers pointed out that the helical spring inside the key is a crucial factor, and here gaming enthusiasts may prefer linear keys that are activated early, while a user who types a lot tends to a touch keyboard, which includes a clearly felt operating point.
Customization function
The keyboard customization function is an important function, especially for gamers.
“The expanded software configurability of gaming keyboards is widespread, and they offer many new functions, such as adjusting lighting effects, sampling rates, and storing complex commands that can be executed with the push of a button,” Kanahn noted. ".
Mechanical keyboards are usually more expensive than models with a rubber dome, but when you want to buy a keyboard, you must pay close attention to the technical characteristics, because the appearance can be modified later by using other keycaps.
Source: German